Combined sign and light unit



Feb. 10, 1953 v JOHNSON 2,627,684

COMBINED SIGN AND LIGHT UNIT Filed Sept. 24. 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 5 7 7 1;. 5 D 5 I v 7 5.5" H 1 2 2g 2 47,")

3nventor Feb. 10, 1953 R. E. JOHNSON COMBINED SIGN AND LIGHT UNIT 2' SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1948 Z'smaentor Clitorneg Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED SIGN AND LIGHT UNIT Robert E. Johnson, Proctor, Minn.

Application September 24, 1948, Serial No.,51 ,089 1 Claim. (o1. 40-130) This invention relates to a combined sign and light unit.

One of the principal objects of the instant invention is to provide a novel combined sign and light unit capable of multiple and varied use in retail establishments. For example, the instant device may be placed on the top of a cash register and provide illumination for the keys and cash drawer of the register therebelow to reduce possibilities of mistakes in ringing up sales as well as in making change, and at the same time may display illuminated indicia of any desired type. Another use to which the device is readily adapted is for illuminating merchandise displayed on a shelf therebelow, and at the same time display illuminated advertising matter. A further use for the instant device is as a night light for re tail establishments as the current consumption of the device is very small and if placed so that I it can be viewed from outside, it will be a lighted advertisement all night long.

Another object is to provide a novel housing unit for the device which can be manufactured economically and assembled readily, and having as few separate parts as possible.

An additional object is to provide a means of supporting and illuminating a translucent sheet and at the same time provide means to utilize the same source of illumination by directing it in a direction away from the translucent sheet.

A further object is to provide a housing unit to which various ornamentation can be applied on the exposed surface thereof such as diestamped designs or even decals if desired.

A further object is to provide novel means for supporting a sheet of translucent material, such as plate glass, plastic, or the like, to extend upwardly from the housing directily over a light source so as to be edge illuminated by the latter, the translucent material being adorned with suitable material for illuminated display.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the base member of the unit illustrating the installation of the electrical fixtures and connections.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the cover member of the unit.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the unit with the end member removed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the end members.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective view of the unit from the under side thereof with the suction cup foot members removed. i

Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing the cover member with the translucent sheet installed and the end members in projected position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the base member alone. r

As seen in Fig. 7, the base or body member of the housing of the device is'made of a single sheet of material, preferably metal, which is'cut and bent to the desired form. The reference numeral 1 indicates the bottom wall or face of the base member, which has, preferably, narrow extensions 2 adjacent the forward longitudinal edges thereof as indicated, and has a substantially isosceles trapezoidally shaped portion 3 extending rearwardly from the innermost ends of said narrow extensions as shown, thus providing for a conveniently shaped housing as Well as one of pleasing appearance.

A rectangular back wall 4 is bent upwardly from the rearmost edge of the bottom face of the housing and extends at right angles thereto. From each of the equi-length angularly disposed edges of the rearmost portion of the bottom I a rectangular side wall 5 is bent upwardly at right angles so that one edge thereof abuts the adjacent edge of said back wall to form closed corners. Each of the walls 4 and 5 are of equal height so that a uniform upper edge is maintained. From the forward edge of the bottom I a front wall 5 is bent upwardly at right angles to the bottom and parallel with the back wall 4 to a height'equal to that of the walls 4 and 5 where the upper end thereof is bent at right angles to extend outwardly from the upper edge of the front wall, forming a shelf-like portion 1.

It is to be noted thatIno vertical wall is provided in the base portion to extend upwardly from the rear edge of the extensions 2, the purpose of which will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The cover or secondary member of the device, illustrated in Fig. 2, is also made of a single sheet of material, preferably metal, and the major portion 8 thereof is substantially flat throughout with the rearmost section thereof shaped to correspond with the shape of the rearmost section of the bottom I. The rear edge and the opposed angular edges of the rearmost section of the cover each have a flange 9 and I0 respectively depending therefrom to overlap the adjacent upper portions of their corresponding walls 4 and 5 of the base member whentliec'over 3 is installed on the base member, the upper marginal edge of the walls 4 and 5 being, preferably, pressed inwardly slightly as at H to permit the telescopic union of the cover on the base member with no objectionable edges projecting from the walls of the device.

The substantially flat surface of the cover member extends from the rearmost flanged edge thereof to a point forwardly of the outermost edge of the shelf-like portion 7 of the base memher on which the cover rests as seen in Fig. 3, and an elongated slot I2 is cut longitudinally therein parallel with the walls 4 and 5 of the base with the rearmost edge of the slot being alined vertically and longitudinally with the forward edge of the shelf 1 as is apparent from Fig. 3. In forming the slot 42, a plurality of lugs l3 and M, are struck and bent downwardly at right angles to the cover, one set on each side of the slot as shown, the purpose of which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, however, the rearmost lugs l3 abut the forward edge of the shelf ll of the front wall 6 "and form a cooperative part with the flanges 9 and Ill to keep the cover alined and in proper position on the base portion, as the flange 9 is opposed to the lugs l3, and the flanges iii of the angular sides of the cover are opposed to each other, thereby preventing either longitudinal or transverse movement of the cover when it is in place on the base portion.

If desired the inwardly pressed edge of the wall 4 of the base may have one or more perforations or inward indentations I5, and the flange 9 may be indented as at It to correspond with those and thus a snap-lock closure is provided to aid in holding the cover and base assembled.

A wall I! is bent downwardly from the cover member on each side thereof to abut the rearmost edge of the extensions 2 and the adjacent edge of their respective angular walls 5 to form mediate of the shade portion and the front wall 6 and hold the housing in assembled relation with an opening below the shade portion. The

end members are shaped to correspond with the open ends of the assembled housing and have 'a flange entirely around the outer edges thereof to overlap and engage the corresponding edges of the cover and base members, the outer edges of the cover member and the shade portion being pressed inwardly slightly as at 2!, to receive the flanges 20 of the end members in the same smooth manner as the flanges 9 and it are received by the walls 4 and 5.

The lower edge of the end members intermediate of the end of the shade portion and the lower edge of the front wall is preferably arched slightly as at 22 to provide a pleasing appearance and also to insure a snug fit of the end members on the housing to prevent their being jarred or otherwise moved out of place. In order to further insure the end members against unanticipated removal, a plurality of perforations or indentations 23 may be provided on the shade portion and cover and adjacent the outer edges of the wall I! and bottom face I, if desired, and corresponding indentations 24 may be placed on the flanges 20 to cooperate with the indentations 23, thereby forming positive means for holding the housing in assembled relation.

Foot members are provided to permit the unit being placed on any type of surface, and one foot member 25 is of a strip of metal fixed to and depending arcuately downwardly from the front wall 6 of the base member, while the other foot members, preferably two, are in the form of suction cups 26 installed on the bottom face I of the base member and make it possible to secure the sign and light unit in place on its support and prevent its being knocked off accidentally, this feature being especially desirable where the unit is to be placed on a narrow shelf or the like.

To complete the unit, the housing just described is equipped with a light source 27 and a sheet of translucent material 28 for displaying indicia or the like.

The light source 2? is preferably an elongated fluorescent tube which extends across and is supported by the front wall 6 of the base of the housing, there being suitable notches 0 cut in the opposed vertical edges of the front wall to receive the conventional tube supports 29 which also carry the electric contacts 30 for the tube, the supports 29 being held in place on the front wall 6 as by sheet metal screws 3! as shown.

A fluorescent starter switch 32 is installed on one of the side walls 5 of the unit and has its major portion within the compartment in the base member and is conveniently accessible from either the front or back of the unit exteriorly thereof. The opposite side wall 5 is perforated and provided with a rubber grommet 33 to pass the electric conductor cord 34 into the interior of the compartment.

A conventional ballast device 35 is installed within the base compartment as by rivets 35 through the front wall of the base, and the device is wired to function in the desired manner.

The translucent sheet 28 is preferably plate glass, although plastic or other material may be used. The sheet 28 is supported by means of proecting finger-like brackets 3'! of metal which are struck from the front wall 6 and pressed to extend. at substantially richt angles thereto just above the upper level of the light tube 2'5, and the lugs I3 and M, which project downwardly from the edges of the slot [2 in which the sheet 28 is carried, sup-port the sheet in its desired upstanding position, and as stated, the lugs I3 also co-act with the flange 9 of the cover member to aid in retaining the latter in firm assembled relation with the base member.

Any suitable illustrations or indicia may be sandblasted, engraved, or painted in the sheet 28 for advertising purposes or conveying desired information to a person viewing same, Of course, display matter may be fixed to the sheet as by gluing if desired.

From the above it is deemed apparent that a new, novel and useful sign and light unit has been provided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

An illuminated sign and a support therefore comprising a housing for supporting a fluores cent lamp and its ballast, said housing including a bottom, a front wall, a back wall and side walls, lamp sockets mounted on the back of and extending through said front wall adjacent each end thereof for supporting a fluorescent lamp on the outer side thereof, a ballast for said lamp positioned and secured behind said front wall within the housing, said front wall being provided with outwardly extending brackets positioned above said lamp, a cover for said housing, said cover defining a top wall for said housing and being of greater width than said housing and extending outwardly from the top of said front wall to define a shade for said lamp. said extending portion of said cover having an elongated slot therein along the length of said lamp, a sign of translucent material installed within said slot and extending upwardly therefrom adapted to be edge illuminated by said light, said sign being supported above said lamp by said slot and said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,118,777 Hammer May 24, 1938 2,251,861 Willer Aug. 5, 1941 2,274,133 Gerstenberger Feb. 24, 1942 2,276,185 Gauthier Mar. 10, 1942 

